Apparatus for use in the manufacture of ice



Dec. 31, 1929.

- A. J. BENTLEY APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE Filed Nov. 12, 1925 77,402 sin rare application filed lllovember it, with. serial lilo. tllhtillt.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in the manufacture of ice, the object being" to provide simple. inexpensive and durable apparatus by means of which a plurality of freezing cans of standard construction may be joined together and handled as a unit throughout the several operations incident to the manufacture of ice.

The manufacture of ice as practiced in a to large proportion of ice making plants is carlit) ried on with the aid of so-called freezing cans which are filled with the water and immersed in large tanks of brine whichis circulated in contact with the cans. The temperature of the brine is lrept belowthe freezinp; point of water by suitable refrigerating apparatus.

- W hen the water contained in the freezing" cans has been transformed into ice the cans are removed from the brine tank, dipped in a tank of comparatively warm water to loosen the ice cakes and then inverted to dump the ice cakes out of the cans. The cans are again filled with water, returned to the brine tank and the cycle of operations repeated.

Tn order to effect an. economy of time and labor in the handling of the freezing cans various forms of apparatus have been provided for fastening a number of cans together so that they may be handled as a unit. Uertain forms of such apparatus are unsatisfactory in that they require specially constructed brine tanlzs in order that they may be used. Furthermore certainforlus of such apparatus require specially constructed cans and also require the permanent attachment of the cans to the frame-work which holds them together.

The apparatus hereinafter described may be used with any standard type of freezing, can of suitable sizeand such cans may be easily removed from and replaced in the frame-work which holds them together. Moreover the presently described apparatus may be used in brine tanks as heretofore constructed and Without changing the arrangement of coils, etc, within the tank.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of apparatus coil type line 2?) of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form and Figure 4- is a partial longitudinal section on line l-et of Figure 3.

The apparatus shown in figures 1 and 3 are designed to accommodate sin freezing cans but it will, of course, be understood that a larger or smaller numberof freezing cans may he provided for. The freezing cans 10 may be of any suitable construction and of a size adapted for the particular plant or system in which they are to be used. Freezing cans are commonly provided with a reinforcing hand around the upper edie and herein a reinforcin r band 11 is firmly riveted to the sheet metal side and end walls of each can.

[t carrier frame 15 is provided to engage the several cans and hold them in relatively fixed positions. Each carrier frame consists of two longitudinal members 16 and 17 in Figure 1, and 16' and 17. in Figure 3, together with transverse members numbered 18 to 24 inclusive in Figure 1. and 18' to 26" inclusive in Figure 3. I

The present construction of carrier frame takes advantage-of and cooperates with the reinforcing band of each freezing can, one set of members engaging the under edge of the band and the other set of members removably engaging the upper edge, and between them firmly holding the freezing cans in fixed relation with the carrier frame and with each other. i

Referring specifically to Figures 1 and 2 it will be observed that the longitudinal members 16 and 17 of the carrier frame 15 consist of flat bars preferably of substantial depth and thickness attached to each other by the transverse members 18 to 2d inclusive which are upturned at their ends and riveted securely to the longitudinal members. The transverse members 18. 20, 21. 22 and 24 consist' of flat steel bars lying; in a horizontal plane whereas the longitudinal members are disposed in vertical planes. The transverse members 19 and 23 are in the form of T-sectill lllll tions each with an upstanding web in which a hole is formed for engagement by suitable lifting apparatus.

The members of the carrier frame shown in Figures 1 and 2 are so disposed in relation to each other that the longitudinals 16 and 17 will fit against the surfaces of the reinforcing bands along the narrow sides of the cans while the transverse members will extend under the lower edges of the reinforcing bands on the long sides of the cans so that when a can of standard construction and proper size is placed in any one of the apertures of the carrier frameit will be supported and held fro'm shifting lengthwise of the frame by the transverse members as well as being held from shifting transversely by the longitudinal members.

Suitable means are provided for holding the cans in place when the carrier frame is inverted, such means herein taking the form of one or more longitudinally extending bars 27 and 28 which are bolted or other-wisesecured to the longitudinal members 16 and 17- the connecting transverse members 18 to 26 also consist of vertically disposed flat steel members formed with integral lugs which pass through slots in the longitudinals and are headed over to form integral rivets.

This form of transverse member enables the freezing cans to be spaced more closely than in the form of carriershown in Figures 1 and 2. It will be further noted that the longitudinals, in this instance, support the freezing cans by engagement with the under edges of the reinforcing bands on the short sides of the cans, whereas the transverse members engage the outer surfaces of the reinforcing bands on the long sides of the cans and carry the means whereby the cans are held down firmly in the carrier frame. In short there is in Figure 3 a partial reversal of the functions of the longitudinal, and transverse members shown in Figure 1.

In the form of carrier frame shown in Figure 3 each of the transverse members is provided with retaining bars 29 which are attached thereto by suitably spaced bolts so that the bars bear down on the upper edges of the reinforcing bands on the long sides of the cans. One transverse member is provided between each freezing can, except that between each end can and the adjacent can two transverse members are provided and spaced from each other so that a bolt or lug rier frame of simple and rugged construc-.

tion which does not require specially rolled shapes and which may be assembled at the manufacturing plant with a minimum of labor and then shipped without the cans to' the ice manufacturing plant where the cans may be assembled to the frames without the use of special tools or other apparatus. In

asmuch as the cans are so designed that they will partially telescope for shipping, consid erable space is.saved by shippin them in the ordinary way apart from t e carrier frames.

When the cansand frames are assembled and put into use it will be understood by those familiar with ice manufacture, that each frame and its contained cans is handled as a unit, thatis to say, the cans are simultaneously filled with water, simultaneously inserted in the brine tank, simultaneously removed, dipped in warm water and dumped;

With .the form of carrier frame herein described standard cans already in use are available for assembly with the carrier frame. Moreover, if any one can becomes defective in use it may be readily replaced and it is not necessary to destroy the entire unit. The removal of the pro er retaining bars enables any can to be lifte out of the carrier frame and another to be put in its place.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims. What I claim is: 1. In apparatus for use 1n makmg we, a

structure constructed and arranged to be handled as a unit, comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of freezing cans removably carried thereby, means engageable by said cans below their to edges for supporting said cans, and remova 1e devices engaging-the top edges of the freezing cans to prevent displacement thereof.

2. .In apparatus for use in making ice, a structure constructed and arranged to be handled as unit, comprising a shallow carrier frame and a. plurality of freezing cans removably carried thereby and engagingthe frame at their top portions only, the carrier frame comprising a group 0 parallel side members and a group of cross members con necting the side members, retaining means detachably secured to one of said groups of members, the cans having reinforcing bands partially resting upon one group of members, and partially engaged at the upper edges thereof by the retaining means on the other group of members for holding the cans against displacement.

3. In apparatus for use in making ice, a structure constructed and arranged to be handled as a unit, comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of freezing cans removably carried thereby, the carrier frame comprising parallel sidemembers and cross members connecting theside members, the cans having reinforcing bands engaging one set of members to provide support for the cans. and bars removably secured to the other setof members for engaging the top edges of the reinforcing bands to prevent displacement of the cans in the carrier frame.

4. {In apparatus for use in making ice, a structure constructed and arranged, to be handled as a unit, comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of freezing cans removably carried thereby, the carrier frame comprising narrow side members having their upper edges extending above the tops of the cans and cross membersconnecting the side members, the tops of'the side members lying in a plane substantially above the tops of the cans and retaining members secured to the side members and engaging the tops of the cans to prevent displacementthereof in the carrier frame.

5. A carrier frame comprising, in combination, parallel side members and cross members arranged to support freezing cans by engagement With the top reinforcing bands thereof together with retaining bars secured .to the side members and engageable with the tops of the cans. to hold them against displacement.

6. In a grid for ice cans, a frame. bars at the lower edge of the frame for supporting said cans, and removable bars above said firstnamed bars serving to hold said cans rigidly in place relatively thereto, substantially as set forth.

7.--In an apparatus for use in making ice. in combination, a. structureconstructed and arranged to be handled as a unit. comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of freezing cans carried thereby, said freezing cans being provided with reinforcing bands around their upper edges, said frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and a plurality of transverse members supported by ,said longitudinal members near the lower edges thereof, said transverse members being spaced to engage the lower edges of sald remforcmg bands along the-side Walls of the cans to thereby support the cans, and retaining members secured to said longitudinal members in position to engage the upper edges of the end Walls of sald cans to hold said cans against displacement when said frame is inverted to dump the ice cakes.

In testimon whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this tenth day of November, 1925.

' ANSO'N'J. BENTLEY. 

